First Dance Tips from a Paris & Dublin Wedding Photographer

Your first dance is one of the most romantic, emotional, and memorable parts of your wedding day. It’s that quiet moment where the noise fades, the guests disappear into the background, and you and your partner get to simply be with each other, in the moment, and wrapped in your favourite song.

As a wedding photographer based in Dublin and Paris, I’ve captured countless first dances over the years. Each one is completely unique, yet there are a few simple things every couple can do to make their first dance photos truly beautiful. From lighting and movement to mindset and connection, here’s everything I recommend to help you look and feel your best during this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

1. Choose a Song That Feels Like You

The right song makes a world of difference—not just for the experience, but for your photos too. Choose a track that resonates with you both emotionally. Whether it's slow and romantic, fun and upbeat, or something that reminds you of your early days together, a meaningful song helps you stay grounded and present during your dance.

Why this matters for your photos:

A song you love naturally brings emotion to the surface. When you're connected to the music, you're more likely to smile, laugh, or tear up—all the little in-between moments that make first dance photos unforgettable.

2. Set the Mood with Soft, Romantic Lighting

Lighting is key when it comes to photography—and your first dance is no exception. Harsh or fast-moving DJ lights can cast strange colours and shadows that are difficult to edit. Instead, ask for soft, warm lighting to create a dreamy, timeless atmosphere.

Ideal lighting for first dance photos:

String lights or fairy lights
Candlelight or lanterns
Amber or golden-toned uplighting
Soft white spotlights (without changing colours)

✨ Tip: Ask your band or DJ to keep the lighting subtle for the first minute or so if possible. This allows your photographer to capture clean, elegant images without strong colour casts.

3. Clear the Dance Floor

A clutter-free space keeps the focus where it should be: on you. Before your dance, ask your planner or venue staff to do a quick check for:

Handbags or jackets left nearby
Half-full drinks on nearby tables
Stray cables or speaker wires
Chairs or décor items that have crept in

Even the most stunning photo can be distracted by a forgotten handbag in the background. A clean floor makes everything feel more intentional and refined.

4. Let Go of Perfection

You don’t need to be a trained dancer to have a beautiful first dance. In fact, some of the loveliest photos come from unscripted, imperfect moments—an unexpected laugh, a missed step followed by a hug, or a tender glance as the music swells.

What matters most is how connected you feel to each other.

Photography Insight:

When you’re truly present with your partner, the camera disappears. The best moments aren’t posed, they’re felt. You don’t have to “perform”, just be yourselves.

5. Practice in Your Wedding Shoes (and Dress, if Possible)

Your wedding outfit looks incredible but it may not move the way your usual clothes do. Practicing your first dance (even for just a few minutes) while wearing your wedding shoes will help you feel more confident and steady.

If your dress has a train, long sleeves, or a veil, try a simple spin or sway in it ahead of time (without the groom sneaking a peek!). This will help you understand how the fabric moves and avoid any surprises during the dance.

👗 Pro Tip: If you’re planning to bustle your dress before the dance, make sure someone practices it in advance so it looks tidy and flows nicely in photos.

6. Let Your Photographer Know What to Expect

Planning to end with a dip? A twirl? Will someone else be joining partway through? If there’s anything special planned, it’s helpful to give your photographer a heads-up. That way, it will help us position ourselves and anticipate the moment without interrupting the flow.

💡 Bonus Tip: Share your first dance song with your photographer ahead of time. This gives us a sense of the rhythm and pacing so we can plan lens choices, angles, and timing to suit your moment.

7. Embrace Personal Touches

Some of the most memorable first dance photos come from couples who make the moment their own. Whether you:

Dance under the stars
Invite guests to join halfway through
Use a custom remix of your song
Light sparklers or candles around the dance floor

…these little additions can make your dance feel even more meaningful and your photos truly unique.

8. Think About the Flow of the Moment

It’s worth considering when and how your first dance will happen. For example:

Will you go straight into the dance after your entrance?
Do you want it to be private and low-key, or energetic and crowd-involved?
Will it be indoors or outdoors, daylight or night?

The timing and setting of your first dance affect the tone and lighting of your images, so it’s worth chatting about it with your photographer and planner during your timeline meeting.

📷 From a photographer’s perspective: Golden hour dances (just before sunset) are especially magical for soft, glowing light. But even a candlelit evening dance can be stunning with the right setup.

9. Don’t Worry About the Camera

If you’re someone who feels camera-shy, rest assured: the camera isn’t there to judge. In fact, the less you focus on it, the better the images tend to be.

Instead of thinking about how you look, think about how you feel. That emotion, that love, that joy, that’s what makes your first dance photographs powerful and timeless.

Four bonus secrets to a successful wedding reception dance floor

Your wedding reception is one of the most highly anticipated parts of your special day, with lots of music, dancing, and fun to be had. However, when it comes to planning the perfect dance floor, many couples feel the pressure – you want to get it right to ensure your guests have a great time and your big day goes off without a hitch.

Here, we share four secrets to a successful wedding reception dance floor:

Choose a great band

Your musical entertainment can make or break your guests’ reception experience, so do your best to book a crowd-pleasing wedding band. While you’ll want to stay true to your unique tastes in music as a couple, it’s worth asking for a handful of well-known hits to be played too. They’ll be particularly helpful at the start of the night to get your friends and family onto the dance floor.

A great band will help to amp up the energy during your wedding reception and encourage your guests to let their hair down. Make sure to chat to your wedding band about your plans for your first dance, to ensure you get some alone time on the dance floor together.

Make sure it’s accessible

People of all ages and abilities should be able to have fun on your dance floor, so it’s important to make it inclusive and accessible. Choose a spot where senior guests or people with limited mobility will be able to navigate the space with ease – for example, a section of your reception venue with wide, stair-free access.

Remember that dancing in low light or with bright, flashing lights may be difficult for some guests. Likewise, some people may want to avoid the dance floor altogether, so it’s a good idea to set up a quiet zone for those who need it.

The ways you’ll need to adapt your dance floor will depend on your loved ones’ individual needs, so it’s a good idea to work through your guest list on a case-by-case basis while planning your special day.

Don’t forget decor

While your chosen band is important, your dance floor is about more than just the music. Make sure your wedding decor continues onto the dance floor for a cohesive look and feel.

This will help the space to feel more inviting and encourage a free flow of energy and movement – this is essential if you want your guests to feel relaxed and comfortable enough to dance.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your dance floor design. Personal touches – like having a custom monogram on the floor or a meaningful quote – will look great in your wedding photos.

Get the timing right

Start the music too early and you may be left with an empty dance floor, at least for the initial portion of your reception. It’s best to give your guests a little time to unwind after their dinner, to mingle and chat and have a couple of drinks before your band takes to the stage.

Above all else, remember that your wedding day is for you and your new spouse, so while you can do your best to ensure your guests have a good time, ultimately all that matters is that your day is special to you. Stay in the moment, and your dance floor is bound to be a success.

Final Thoughts: Your First Dance, Your Way

At the heart of it all, your first dance is a celebration of you as a couple. It doesn’t need to be perfectly choreographed or Instagram-ready. It just needs to be honest. It doesn’t even need to be with everyone watching, you can have a little moment together in the gardens or anywhere you like!

Whether you’re slowly swaying in a quiet courtyard or twirling through a ballroom with all your friends cheering, your first dance photos should reflect the energy and emotion of your story.

And as your wedding photographer, I’ll be there to gently and unobtrusively document it all, the soft smiles, the deep breaths, the playful missteps, the spark of joy. So you can relive that moment again and again.

Planning Your Wedding in Dublin, Paris or Beyond?

I'm Catherine, a Dublin and Paris based wedding photographer, specialising in natural, timeless imagery for couples who value elegance, artistry, and emotion.

Whether you're planning a chic celebration in the city or an intimate elopement in the countryside, I’d love to help you tell your story beautifully.

📩 Get in touch here to check availability or tell me about your plans.